Hosting a High School Exchange Student

Would you like to have your family host a high school exchange student? Now, while everyone is home for the holidays, is the time to discuss it with your parents. If your household members choose to be high school exchange student hosts, you'll meet and get to really know a student from another country (the student may be living in your room), and your appetite for student travel will definitely be whetted.

My folks hosted an Australian exchange student when I was in the seventh grade, and many moons later, I still remember the excitement of hearing about foreign climes -- for instance, "our" student, who was from Australia, once remarked that her flip flops stuck to the hot asphalt when she walked to the beach at home. Wow! I lived in a landlocked desert, and I had never imagined living someplace where one could walk to the beach, much less where the temps could fry a flip flop. I was hooked on exploring other locales for life.

Pacific Intercultural Exchange (P.I.E.) is an exchange student clearinghouse and a great source of research info. PIE students are English speakers from 15 to 18 years old; P.I.E.'s programs range from semester long to full year stays. Our exchange student came to the US through Rotary, and spent three months each with four families in the course of a year.

FAQ's: Hosting a High School Exchange Student

Use PIE to do some study: understand what hosting means with PIE's introduction to hosting an exchange student. Understand how an exchange program will match your family and a student, using criteria like gender, hobbies and interests.

A fascinating FAQ on hosting an exchange student through P.I.E. answers many questions your parents may ask:

• "I don't have any children at home. Can I still host?"

• "Can young children benefit from hosting?" (As a seventh grader, I learned that airmail existed from our exchange student.)

• "Does a student need his / her own room?"

• "What happens if my family and the student don't get along?"

• "Can I choose the student I would like to have stay with us?"

• "What are my responsibilities as a host parent?"

• "Are host families paid?"

• "Who pays the exchange student's medical bills?"

Your Own High School Study Abroad

Thinking you'd like to be a high school exchange student yourself? Get all the answers about your own high school study abroad.